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Trader Joe's Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+

Trader Joe's Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+

63/100 overall score

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About this sunscreen

Trader Joe's Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ is a chemical spray sunscreen built on older filters, avobenzone, homosalate, ethylhexyl salicylate and octocrylene. It commonly applies with a balanced finish, low white cast and a lightweight feel, and its low breakout-trigger rating is generally acne-friendly. With 62.5/100 and good protection, it is a convenient, budget-friendly everyday option, though the filter mix is less modern than some alternatives.

Ingredient & SPF scores

β˜€οΈ

UV protection

Good 61
  • +30 Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane at #1, UV filter (UVA1 +16)
  • +12 Homosalate at #2, UV filter
  • +8 Ethylhexyl Salicylate at #3, UV filter
  • +15.2 Octocrylene at #4, UV filter
  • Γ—0.9 Limited long-UVA1 coverage
  • +2 Label claims (SPF 50)
How we rate uv protection β†’
☒️

Health safety

Medium 46
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’40 Homosalate at #2 (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’10.5 Octocrylene at #4, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
  • βˆ’3.5 Avobenzone at #1, stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
How we rate health safety β†’
🀧

Allergens

Low 67
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 Fragrance
  • βˆ’12 Opaque "Fragrance", hidden allergens that can't be checked from the label
  • βˆ’3 Photoallergen-tail UV filters (Octocrylene)
How we rate allergens β†’
πŸ‘»

White cast

Low 100
  • +100 Starting score
How we rate white cast β†’
πŸ”₯

Eye sting

Medium 35
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 Avobenzone at #1, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Homosalate at #2, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’9 Octisalate at #3, migrates into eyes with sweat
  • βˆ’8 Fragrance
How we rate eye sting β†’
πŸͺ¨

Heavy feel

Low 94
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’6 Coconut Oil at #7, heavy oil
How we rate heavy feel β†’
πŸ”΄

Comedogenic

Low 82
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’18 Coconut Oil at #7, comedogenic oil/butter
How we rate comedogenic β†’
πŸ„

Fungal acne

Low 76
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’24 1 oils/butters that feed Malassezia (Coconut Oil)
How we rate fungal acne β†’
πŸ‘•

Fabric stains

High 25
  • +100 Starting score
  • βˆ’50 Avobenzone at #1, reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  • βˆ’15 Octocrylene at #4, co-stains alongside avobenzone
  • βˆ’10 Avobenzone + Octocrylene, the classic staining pair
How we rate fabric stains β†’
πŸ’§

Moisture

Balanced
LightNourishing
  • ← 5 Volatile alcohol at #10
  • β†’ 4 1 emollient lipids (Coconut Oil)
How we rate moisture β†’
✨

Finish

Balanced
MatteDewy
  • ← 1 Volatile alcohol at #10
  • ← 1 1 dry-touch emollients reduce greasy shine (Diisopropyl Adipate)
  • β†’ 6 1 emollient lipids (Coconut Oil)
How we rate finish β†’
πŸ’„

Makeup base

Okay
PillsPrimer
  • β†’ 2 Quick-setting carrier (alcohol at #10), fast, even canvas
  • β†’ 1 Dry-touch esters, smooth fast-absorbing base
  • ← 4 Occlusives/waxes float the foundation
How we rate makeup base β†’
🌊

Water resistance

Resistant
Non-water-resistantWater-resistant
  • +13 1 film-forming polymers that lock the formula on for water resistance
How we rate water resistance β†’

Skincare extras

Beneficial actives this formula contains. Informational only, not part of the rating: their effect depends on a concentration the label does not disclose.

  • ✨ Aloe vera
  • ✨ Vitamin E

Full ingredient list (11)

What each ingredient does and how it moves each rating: green helps, red hurts, ↑ / ↓ give the direction, and ← / β†’ shift a slider toward its ends (finish, moisture, makeup base). Auto-derived from our scoring rules and the ingredient's position.

  1. Legacy UV filter (Avobenzone), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 30 UV protection, incl. long-UVA (UVA1)
    • ↓ 3.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 24 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 50 reacts with iron in wash water into rust-yellow stains
  2. 2 Homosalate

    Legacy UV filter (Homosalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 12 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  3. 3 Ethylhexyl Salicylate

    Legacy UV filter (Octisalate), high in the list, a primary filter

    • ↑ 8 UV protection
    • ↑ 9 migrates into eyes with sweat
  4. 4 Octocrylene

    Legacy UV filter (Octocrylene)

    • ↑ 15.2 UV protection
    • ↓ 10.5 stacked (regulatory/evidence concern)
    • ↑ 15 migrates into eyes with sweat
    • ↑ 15 co-stains alongside avobenzone
  5. Thickener and texture, structures the gel or cream

    • ↑ 13 film former
  6. Soothing, skin-conditioning active

  7. 7 Coconut Oil

    Plant oil, an emollient

    • ↑ 6 heavy oil
    • ↑ 18 comedogenic oil/butter
    • 4 β†’ nourishing emollient lipid
    • 6 β†’ dewy emollient lipid
    • ↑ 24 feeds malassezia
  8. 8 Diisopropyl Adipate

    Emollient, softens and smooths skin

    • matte ← 1 dry-touch emollient, anti-shine
  9. 9 Fragrance

    Fragrance

  10. 10 Sd Alcohol 1

    Volatile alcohol, a drying solvent that can sting eyes

  11. 11 Tocopheryl Acetate

    Antioxidant, protects the formula and skin

Is Trader Joe's Sunscreen Spray good?

It is a convenient, budget-friendly option, scoring 62.5/100 with good protection. The chemical filter mix is somewhat older than some rivals.

Does the Trader Joe's Sunscreen Spray SPF 50+ leave a white cast?

It generally leaves a low white cast with a balanced, lightweight finish, so it tends to blend into most skin tones.

Is it mineral or chemical?

It is a chemical sunscreen, using older filters: avobenzone, homosalate, ethylhexyl salicylate and octocrylene.

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